Founded: 2001

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses are tiny, show quality miniature horses that are therapy animals. At only 27-29 inches tall, these horses work with children and adults inside hospitals, hospice programs, assisted living programs, group homes, programs for Alzheimer patients, schools for children with disabilities and with those unable to leave home. They also work with at risk and abused children.

When a real horse walks into someone’s bedroom or hospital room challenges are forgotten for a few magical moments. While a larger, more powerful horse may seem very daunting to a young child, an elderly person or someone with a disability, an instant bond seems to form with these little therapy horses.

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses all have bright blue eyes and are sprinkled with “fairy dust” sparkles before each visit. When the visit is over, a stuffed toy horse that looks like the real horse is left behind on the bed. A photographer travels with the horses so families can have photo memories.

The horses are highly trained and able to walk on different floor surfaces, walk up steps, move around hospital equipment and use elevators. They feel comfortable in new situations and adapt to sounds and sights that would frighten most of their equine friends. Learning the skills needed to be a therapy horse can take up to two years and there is always something new to learn.

Gentle Carousel also has the “Reading Is Magic” program, which focuses on struggling or at risk students in preschools and elementary schools. Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses visit both classrooms and libraries.

Gentle Carousel Therapy Horses worked with over 1600 children and adults in 2008. Gentle Carousel believes you are never too young or too old to have a wish granted.

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